AquaBike

Isaac and I did something fun together yesterday.  We went with another mom and son combo down to Lake Las Vegas to participate in a "timed workout".  There were two choices.  A sprint triathlon 400M swim, 12 mile bike, 5K run or a swim, bike, swim again.  (Same two first distances as the tri, but you swim again at the end and skip the run.)  We all opted to do the "AquaBike" because swimming in open water is our weak spot.  This was Isaac's first open water swim without a life jacket.  He has now experienced the starting frenzy, the crowd in the water, the feeling of too many legs and arms thrashing around you.  His big handicap was not being able to see far without glasses.  I thought it would be easier for him on the first round, staying with the crowd, but he drifted to the right too much and was getting run over by the return crowd.  He liked the second swim much better because there was almost no crowd to worry about (1/2 the people were running and he was ahead of many adults) and by then, he knew where to go.

Both boys thought is was the hardest bike ride they have ever gone on.  It was a two lap circuit of the resort with a couple of serious hills.  Isaac has a big heavy bike, but still rode hard.  The boys finished together and got lots of attention.  The guy with the microphone kept congratulating them and remarking on their ages.  Everyone was so impressed that they wanted to participate and did so well.  They were worn out but both started trying to talk us into letting them sign up for the real Tri coming up in September.  We voted them down.  The crowd is MUCH bigger.  The swim is longer, well, I guess the sprint is the total of what they did, but put together so you are in the water for a longer consecutive time.  The bike is longer and harder and they haven't ever done the full 5K after biking and heat is going to be an issue too.  We told them they could try the Adult Sprint in St George next April and we'll help them train more during the summer if they are serious about trying it next year.  They are quite the young athletes.

Other news.  The kids know the end of summer is approaching and are trying to fill every spare moment with play.  We have had 6-7 kids at our house from morning till night most days for the past couple weeks.  It's good to see that Makenna is no where near too big for dress-ups.  The birthday earrings have lost none of their charm.  She changes her earrings to match the outfits she and her friends come up with, multiple pairs per day.  The capes I made for Isaac when he was little are now more often wrap around skirts and elegant draped dresses with scarves tied here and here.  Ah, it brings back memories.  

Jess is having her last swim lesson of the season this week.  Her crawl and backstroke look quite good and she is learning the breast stroke.  She wants to do swim team next year.  She and her friend Ellie have been practically living together, but it's still not enough for them.  Ellie's mom told me this quote heard early one recent morning, "Mom, you never let me play with Jessica!"  (Ellie had been at our house till 9pm the night before.)

The weather is still hot.  One morning it was cool enough that we blew air in for an hour before shutting up the house, but now the night lows are back to the mid 80's.  We are certainly on the downside of the heat though.    I am looking forward to longer runs again in September and October mornings without having to wake up at 4.